A Word from Brother Paul
September 9, 2011
I state often that I'm not a computer person, (couldn't turn it on or off) but there are benefits and hopefully this website is for you. I know it was for one recently.
Sunday before church I was visiting with someone and a young lady, whom I did not recognize, sat in the pew in front of me. We greeted each other and I asked her, “Who invited you to Friendly Chapel?” She said, "No one. My truck blew up and I began riding the city bus, and it brought me by this church. So I looked you up on the internet."
I said, “Really?” and she continued, "I liked what I saw, I liked what the church was doing. So I decided to visit. I love it, and I'm really looking forward to your sermon this morning."
So, if we had no website, we probably would have missed that blessing. If you are reading this and don't have a CHRIST/other-centered church, come visit and tell us your story.
Today, I had another young lady come needing a little hand up with groceries, pots and pans, and furniture. We were working on getting her a few things together when she started this amazing story.
Before I tell you what she told me, let me share a little sidebar to the story. People often ask me to explain the church growth since my Dad left us for Heaven. They want to know if I can explain a continual solid growth for these past 14 years, and I believe I can.
My Dad and Mom gave their hearts to Christ and their lives to His service in this little part of North Little Rock for a quarter of a century. For these past 14 years we have simply been picking "fruit" from this orchard they so well tended.
So, with that said, let me continue what the young lady told me. She said "Brother Paul, I've been coming to church here for the past couple of months. I'm going to the new Nazarene class, and I am going to join soon. I'm going to join the church where I was first introduced to Jesus when I was seven years old.”
“Brother Paul, all us kids came to church here because ya'll were always feeding. The Sunday School Teacher was telling us one day about JESUS who went on a cross for even us, because HE loved us so much. I wanted the other kids to quit playing around. Didn't they hear what the teacher said?”
“Anyway, I met HIM that day and later wandered away and got on drugs and ended up in jail. Eeven though I wasn't violent, I spent 75 days in a cell and there got re-acquainted with the Bible. When I got out I visited several churches, but HE brought me back to where I first met HIM!!"
We're picking "FRUIT", and sometimes it’s picking us!
In HIS grip,
Brother Paul